A new twist to the Riders' numbers game

The time has arrived for another Leader-Post-mortem — the latest in a series and the first of its kind.

In a landmark contribution to (burp) sports journalism, we will dissect a Saskatchewan Roughriders road victory over a West Division opponent.

On Friday, the Roughriders quieted the naysayers — if not the inexhaustible gasbag who persists in screaming into a microphone at Commonwealth Stadium — by defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 54-31.

It was the Roughriders’ first win as the visitor in a West Division stadium since Sept. 7, 2014. Fifteen successive intra-divisional road losses had ensued before Friday’s rout.

So, without further preamble and indigestion, let’s break down the Roughriders’ breakout game …

NICK KNACK

Nick James demonstrated a knack for making important, if somewhat unheralded, contributions on special teams.

In addition to seeing duty on a defensive line that created a consistent push up the middle, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound tackle twice helped the Roughriders put points on the board when Edmonton was in a kicking situation.

James paved the way for teammate Willie Jefferson to retrieve the ball and waltz into the end zone after the 6-foot-6 defensive end blocked a punt in the first quarter.

Edmonton punter Hugh O’Neill raced after the loose ball, with James in hot pursuit. O’Neill dove for the ball, only to have it squirt free after James landed, and Jefferson took it from there.

In the second quarter, James blocked a convert attempt by O’Neill. The ball trickled into the end zone and was picked up by Duron Carter, who then eluded nine pursuers while scampering 113 yards for two points.

Jefferson made one of the key blocks on Carter’s two-point sprint, as did Henoc Muamba and Kacy Rodgers II (as in II points).

PERFECT POCKET

In Friday’s best-selling edition of the Regina Leader-Post, football writer Murray McCormick outlined five keys to a Roughriders victory. First on the list was “Protect Kevin Glenn.”

The veteran quarterback had faced unrelenting pressure in each of the Roughriders’ previous two road games — in which Saskatchewan had registered nary a first-half point.

On Friday, for a change, Saskatchewan exploded out of the gate and opened the scoring when Glenn found Naaman Roosevelt for a seven-yard touchdown.

Edmonton rushed with seven men on that play, but nobody got near Glenn. He spotted Roosevelt in a one-on-one situation against the Eskimos’ Garry Peters, who was left in the dust. Roosevelt then made a spectacular TD catch.

FOUR-THOUGHT

Roughriders head coach Chris Jones, who moonlights as the defensive co-ordinator, leaned on a four-man rush Friday night.

According to data that was compiled and generously shared by TSN’s Derek Taylor, Jones sent four men in 30 of 42 pass-rush situations, or 71 per cent of the time.

Those 30 plays break down as follows: 17 completions in 27 attempts, with no touchdowns, a pair of two-point converts and two interceptions (pick-sixes by Rodgers and Jovon Johnson); one four-yard scramble by Mike Reilly; and, two sacks.

Taylor’s statistical analysis of Saskatchewan’s previous game — a 41-8 victory over the visiting B.C. Lions on Aug. 13 — showed that the Roughriders rushed with four men 45 per cent of the time in that game.

Jones was much more apt to blitz against B.C. (when he sent five or more men 32.7 per cent of the time) than versus Edmonton (19.0).

Thank you once again, Derek Taylor. Onwards …

PPPOPULAR? PFFTTT!

According to my new statistical tool, which has proven to be so wildly popular that nobody has emulated it, Edmonton actually executed plays more consistently than did Saskatchewan.

That shaky conclusion was reached by applying the PPP — Positive Plays Percentage.

The PPP was invented as a means of evaluating the consistency with which the Roughriders execute on both sides of the ball.

Per this formula, a win is awarded to the offence or defence on each play from scrimmage. A positive outcome for the offence is defined here as a touchdown, a first down, a first-and-10 play that gains at least five yards, or a second-down play that creates at least a third-and-short opportunity.

On Friday, the Eskimos’ offence had a PPP of 54.0 per cent, whereas the Roughriders checked in at 47.2.

Edmonton had a PPP (Pretty Poor Percentage) of 38.5 after three quarters before sporting a decorative 79.2 over the final 15 minutes.

On the season, Saskatchewan has out-PPP’d its opponents 54.5 to 50.5.

DEEP TROUBLE

The Roughriders’ pass defence was repeatedly scorched over the top during the first five games of the season. Everything has changed since then.

Over the past two games, Saskatchewan’s opposition has completed only four of 20 passes that have travelled 20 or more yards downfield, with two touchdowns and four interceptions.

Compare that to the numbers at the five-game mark: 20-for-43, 11 touchdowns, zero interceptions.

Next up for the Roughriders is Sunday’s clash with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who registered a 43-40 overtime victory at Mosaic Stadium on July 1. In that game, Winnipeg’s Matt Nichols completed five of eight passes that travelled at least 20 yards — including all four of his touchdown passes.

KEY KNOCKDOWNS

Two pass knockdowns by Roughriders defensive backs were a prelude to points.

Late in the first half, Ed Gainey — who had amassed a career-high four interceptions in the Aug. 13 game — stepped in front of a Mike Reilly aerial and nearly made another pick. Edmonton was forced to punt. Five plays and 60 yards later, the Roughriders celebrated a Cameron Marshall touchdown that helped them enjoy a 26-6 halftime lead.

Fast forward to late in the third quarter. On first down, Reilly went deep for Brandon Zylstra, only to have Johnson knock down the pass. On the next play, Johnson intercepted Reilly and sprinted 40 yards for a major. Tyler Crapigna’s convert put Saskatchewan ahead 40-7.

CARTER COUNTRY

Carter’s versatility continues to amaze.

On Friday, he hit the stats sheet in all three phases of the game.

The 113-yard dash has already been mentioned.

During a late-game stint at cornerback, Carter registered two defensive tackles.

Also in the fourth quarter, Carter registered his sixth touchdown catch of the season.

Carter and the Ottawa Redblacks’ Greg Ellingson are tied for the league lead in touchdown receptions. Ellingson has played in 10 games, two more than Carter.

OH, AND ONE MORE THING …

Glenn has 16 touchdown passes in eight games.

Saskatchewan produced 16 touchdown passes, including 14 by Darian Durant, all of last season.

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